THE informal alliance between Ukip and Canvey Independents is set to continue after the Eurosceptic party confirmed it won’t stand in the forthcoming Canvey East ward by-election.

Gail Barton was removed from the council after she failed to turn up to meetings for six months.

Jamie Huntman, Ukip’s candidate for Castle Point in the 2015 elections, said that while there was still no formal pact in place, his group wouldn’t field a candidate against the council’s opposition party.

He said: “On local issues we agree with so much more than we disagree with the Independent group, it doesn’t make sense to stand against them there.

“It’s no secret I get on well with the group. There’s a possibility we could be running the council with them after next year’s elections.”

He added Ukip was still developing its local branches, and said: “For so long I think Canvey has been under-represented on the mainland and we need everyone to have equal representation on the council. The way that can happen is by us working with the Independents.”

A date for the poll is yet to be officially confirmed.